The International Energy Agency said Tuesday that combined carbon dioxide emissions from the world's advanced economies are set to rise 0.5% in 2018, ending a 5-year declining trend.
Why it matters: It's another data point in the wider picture of overall global emissions that began climbing again in 2017 after a 3-year plateau, even as scientists warn of the need for steep emissions curbs in coming years and decades to prevent high levels of warming.
Threat level: IEA called the data, which arrives alongside the major UN climate conference getting underway in Poland, "particularly worrisome for global efforts to meet the Paris Agreement."
What's next: IEA also expects emissions from developing nations to be higher again this year. While fuller data won't be released until March, "all indications point to emissions growth globally," IEA said.
